Vaporizer and pressure regulator



Fdo), l9 Q.. G, L, HOLZAPFEL ,2?9341 VAPORIZER AND PRESSURE REGULATORFiled Feb. 6, 1940 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE vAroRlzER ANDPRESSURE REGULATOR George L. Holzapfel, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February s,y 1940, serial No. 311,563

(ci. 4ax-10s) 3 Claims.

My invention relates to and has for its primary purpose the provision ofa new and highly eilicient combination vaporizer and pressure regulatorwhich is in the form of a compact, comparatively inexpensive and simplyconstructed unit, especially adapted for vaporizing and regulating thepressure and feeding of highly volatile motor fuel such as butane,whereby such fuel may be correctly carbureted.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide a combined vaporizer andpressure regulator unit of the character described wherein the feed ofliquid fuel to the unit is controlled by the pressure regulator meansthereof in a reliable and efficient manner.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide a vaporizer and pressureregulator unit such as described which is readily applicable to andsuitable for use in connection with different types of internalcombustion engines.

A further purpose is to provide a combination vaporizer and pressureregulator such as described Wherein the vaporizng means is comparativelysimple and inexpensive, yet reliable and thorough in its operation.

Yet another purpose of my invention is to provide a combined vaporizerand pressure regulator such as described, wherein a novel and efficientform of pressure regulator makes possible a controlled feed liquid fuelto the unit and also aflords the discharge of vaporized fuel to themixer or carburetor at substantially atmosphere pressure.

A further purpose is to provide a unit of the character describedwherein the vaporizer means is disposed between primary and secondarypressure regulating chambers having means therein for regulating thepressure in two states, with an effective vaporization taking place ineach chamber or stage. The first state regulation controls the feed ofliquid fuel to the unit and the second state regulation controls thedischarge of vaporous fuel from the primary to the secondary chamber andreduces pressure thereof to approximately atmospheric whereby such fuelis prepared for the proper mixing in the carburetor of an internalcombustion engine. Instead of the two stage pressure regulation I mayuse but the primary stage in combination with the vaporizing means andthis arrangement affords certain of the hereinbefore noted advantagesand makes for a cheaper construction which is well suited to preparingbutane or similar fuel for correct carburetion for certain types ofengines.

I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred form/of vaporizerand pressure regulator embodying my invention, subject however, tomodification, within the scope of the appended claims, without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a. vertical sectional view of a combined vaporizer andpressure regulator embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the vaporizer and pressureregulator as when installed for operation with an internal combustionengine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of my invention.

One embodiment of my combined vaporizer and pressure regulator comprisesa hollow cylindrical body portion 6, a top closure 1, a bottom closure 8and horizontally disposed partitions or walls 9 and II) formedintegrally with the body portion. These partitions dene between them aheating chamber II having an intake I2 for a heating fluid and a fluidoutlet I3 whereby hot water, steam or the like may be circulated throughsaid chamber.

Between the partition 9 and the top closure I is a primary vaporizingand pressure regulating chamber I4 having a valved liquid fuel intakeI5. A secondary vaporizing and pressure regulating chamber I6 is definedbetween the partition I0 and bottom closure 8 and is communicated withthe primary chamber through a valved passage II extending through thepartitions and a web portion I1' between the latter. This secondarychamber has an outlet I8 through which vaporized fuel is discharged.

As shown in Fig. 4, a typical installation of a vaporizer and regulatorembodying my invention includes a source of supply I9 of fuel such asliquid butane, a feed line 2I leading therefrom to the intake I5. avaporized fuel line 22 leading from the outlet I8 to a mixer orcarburetor 23 of the internal combustion engine 24 and hot water lines25 and 26 leading from the engine to the heating chamber II. Fuelentering the vaporizer and pressure regulator unit is vaporized and thevaporized fuel at substantially atmospheric pressure passes from theunit through the fuel line 22 to the carburetor 23 whereby the propermixture may be effected preparatory to feeding the fuel mixture to theengine.

As here provided, the valved intake l5 is controlled by pressureregulating means 26 in the primary chamber and includes a tubularfitting 21 extending into said chamber and slidably housing a valve 28which is adapted to engage an annular seat 28' at the inner end of thefitting to shut ofi' the feed to the primary chamber. A spring 29 tendsto seat this valve but the valve is normally held open by the pressureregulating means. The pressure regulating means 26 includes a lever 30pivoted as at 3l in the primary chamber so that one end 32 will contactthe valve and the other end 33 may be engaged by a pin 34 carried by adiaphragm 35 lying between the upper end of the body portion and upperclosure 1 and secured to said closure so as to be removable therewith. Aspring 36 is disposed between a tension adjusting plug 31 in the cover 1and the diaphragm and is stronger than the spring 29 so that the pin 34is forced inwardly against the lever 30 whereby the end 32 of the latterwill normally engage and unseat the intake valve as shown in Fig. 1. Thespace between the dia- Dhragm and cover is open to the atmospherethrough the opening 38 in the cover.

Liquid fuel entering the primary chamber through the valved intake |5will enter one or more tortuous passages 39 formed between spaced ribsor fns40 that are integral with the partition 9. The upper portions ofthe passages 39 are closed by a cover plate 4l whereby to form alabyrinth in which the fuel courses back and forth between the nns so asto be thoroughly vaporized before discharging from the labyrinth outlets42 and 43 into an arcuate space 44 with which the passage |1 iscommunicated. As here shown the labyrinth also has two intakes 45 and46. As the fuel becomes vaporized the pressure thereof in the primarychamber increases and lifts the diaphragm 35, thereby releasing thepressure of the spring 36 and allowing the spring 29 to close the intakevalve whereby to shut on' the feed of liquid fuel to said chamber.

A valve 41 in the passage I1 is normally closed by means of a lever 48pivotally mounted in the secondary chamber, and a spring 49 seated in asocket 50 in the partition I0. This spring bears upon one end of thelever so that the other end of the lever will be raised and held andvalve closed as shown in Fig. 1, it being noted that the spring 49 is ofsuficient strength to maintain the valve 41 closed against the pressurein the primary chamber.

A pressure regulating means in the secondary chamber also controls thevalve 41 and comprises a diaphragm 5| arranged correspondingly to theone in the primary chamber and provided with a pin 52 which is normallyurged against the lever 48 by means of a spring 53 corresponding infunction and arrangement to spring 36. A tension adjusting means 54 isprovided for the spring 53. The bottom closure is provided with anopening 55 to permit of the application of atmospheric pressure to oneside of the diaphragm 5|.

In the secondary chamber is a series of ribs or vanes 56 which areformed on the partition IIJ and form a tortuous passage or labyrinth 51,there being a cover plate 58 for confining the vaporous fuel to saidlabyrinth whereby to more effectively vaporize the fuel. In thisconnection it is noted that the pin 52 is movable in an opening 59 inthe cover 58 and that the other diaphragm pin 34 is slidable in asimilar opening 59 in the diaphragm 35. One or both of these pins may beprovided with a small annular diaphragm 6D for providing a leak proofseal around the pin, said diaphragm being fixed to the pin and coverplate at its peripheries.

Inasmuch as the vaporous fuel outlet I3 is connected with the suctionfeed line 22 leading to the carburetor, the pressure in said line andthe secondary chamber will drop below atmospheric when the engine isstarted and the diaphragm 5| is therefore moved inwardly due to the factthat the force exerted by the spring 53 vand diaphragm 5| through thepin 52 on the lever 48 plus the primary chamber pressure on the valve41, is normally but slightly less than the force of the spring 49. Thusit is seen that upon creating a sub-atmospheric pressure in thesecondary chamber, the atmospheric pressure against the diaphragm aidedby the spring 53 causes the diaphragm to move inward and the pin 52 topush against the lever 48 to allow the valve 41 to open. The aboveatmospheric vapor in the primary chamber now flows through the passage|1 into the secondary chamber where further vaporlzation may take placein the labyrinth, before the fuel discharges through the outlet I3. Asthe vaporized fuel discharges from the primary chamber the pressuretherein drops and allows the diaphragm 35 to move inwardly whereby thepin 34 will rock the lever 30 so that the intake valve will be againopened and allow additional liquid fuel to enter the primary chamber. Asthe primary chamber pressure is relieved from the valve 41 and itsassociated lever when such valve is opened, it is seen that the spring49 due to its comparatively greater tension will rock such lever wherebyto again close the valve 41. In other words when the pressure in thesecondary chamber reaches atmospheric the diaphragm 5| will be extendedoutwardly and the spring 49 will op erate to close the valve 41 asaforesaid.

As shown in Fig. 5 a modified form of apparatus embodying my inventionincludes all of the parts and arrangements of the apparatus shown inFigs. 1 to 4 inclusive, except the secondary chamber pressure regulatingmeans therein. In this form a cylindrical portion 62 has a partition 63defining between end closures 64 and 65 a vaporizing chamber 66 and aheater chamber 61. The vaporizing chamber has a valved liquid fuelintake means 68 identical with the intake means in the first describedform. This means includes a valve operating lever 69 and diaphragm 10. Alabyrinth 1| identical with those in the first described form as toinstruction and mode of operation is provided in the chamber E6. Anoutlet 12 to which a pipe 13 is connected, is provided in the body 62 inthe chamber 66 whereby vaporized fuel will discharge from said chamber.Hot water or other heating fluid is passed through intake and outletports 12 and 15 whereby to heat the body and labyrinth and vaporize theliquid fuel as it courses through the labyrinth. 'This form is suitablefor use in connection with certain types of engines.

It should be noted that the partition 9 which forms the upper wall ofthe heating chamber is provided with depending heat transfer fins 49'.Similar fins 61' are provided in the modified form of the inventionshown in Fig. 5. In the preferred form, however, the lower wall I 6 ofthe chamber may be formed with similar ribs or fins In'.

It will now be seen that I have provided a cornbined vaporizer andpressure regulator which will be more compact and efficient, by reasonof the construction and arrangement of the parts and elements ashereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawing.

It should be noted that the spring 49 holds valve 41 on its seat withgreater force than is necessary to prevent egress of gas from theprimary into the secondary chamber. In order to get the equivalent ofatmospheris pressure in the lower chamber, I therefore use the spring 53which is adjustable and works in the opposite direction to the spring49. In this way the pressure of the valve 41 upon its seat can beadjusted to a nicety. Furthermore should pressure in the lower pressurechamber rise, the valve 41 can not be forced upon its seat with greaterforce than is exerted by the spring 49. A still further advantage isthat the diaphragm I can be cemented to the end member B and the Wholeassembly may be easily removed without interfering with the spring 49and its associated mechanism. The upper chamber is provided with similararrangements for the same purposes.

I claim:

1. A vaporizer and pressure regulator comprising a hollow body, aheating chamber in said hollow body, the walls of said heating chamberand said hollow body defining a primary chamber on one side of saidheating chamber, and a secondary chamber on the other side of saidheating chamber, an inlet to said primary chamber, an outlet from saidprimary chamber, .a passage between said primary and secondary chambers,a pressure responsive means positioned in said primary chamber, a valvein said inlet, an operating connection between said pressure responsivemeans and said valve whereby said valve is opened and closed to maintaina controlled pressure in said primary chamber, a valve in said passagebetween the primary and the secondary chamber, a pressure responsivemeans in said secondary chamber, an operating connection between saidvalve in said last mentioned passage and said pressure responsive meanswhereby said valve is opened and closed to maintain a controlledpressure in said secondary chamber, a heating fluid inlet to s-aidheating chamber and a heating fluid outlet from said heating chamber.

2. A vaporizer and pressure regulator comprising a hollow body, aheating chamber in said hollow body, the walls of said heating chamberand said hollow body defining a primary chamber on one side of saidheating chamber, and a secondary chamber on the other side of saidheating chamber, an inlet to said primary chamber, an outlet from saidprimary chamber, a passage between said primary and second chambers, apressure responsive means in communication with said primary chamber, avalve in said inlet, an operating connection between said pressureresponsive means and said valve whereby said valve is opened and closedto maintain a consaid hollow body, said partitions forming walls of theheating chamber, heating iiuid inlet to and heating fluid outlet fromthe heating chamber,

one of said partitions and the walls of said hollow body dening aprimary chamber, an inlet to said primary chamber, iins on said lastnamed partition extending into said primary chamber, a cover plate onsaid iins forming with said ns a restricted passage, said restrictedpassage communicating with the inlet-to said primary chamber, said coverplate and the walls of said hollow body deiining a diaphragm chamberseparated from but communicating with said restricted passage, apressure responsive diaphragm in said diaphragm chamber responsive topressures in said restricted passage, a valve in said inlet to saidprimary chamber, operating connection between said diaphragm pressureresponsive means and said valve whereby said valve is opened and closedto maintain a controlled pressure in said primary chamber, an outletfrom said restricted passage and said primary chamber, another of saidpartitions and the walls of said hollow body deiining a secondarychamber, iins on said last named partition, said iins extending intosaid secondary chamber, a second cover plate on said last named nsforming with said ns a second restricted passage, a communicatingpassage connecting said last named outlet irom the primary chamber withsaid last named restricted passagel a valve in said last named passage,the walls of said hollow body and said last named cover plate forming asecond diaphragm chamber in said secondary chamber, a communicationbetween said diaphragm chamber and said last named restricted passage,diaphragm pressure responsive means in said diaphragm chamber, saidpressure responsive means being responsive to pressures in said secondnamed restricted passage, operating connections between said last namedpressure responsive means and said last named valve whereby said valveis opened and closed to maintain a controlled pressure on said lastnamed restricted-passage, an outlet from said restricted passage andsaid secondary chamber.

GEORGE L. HOLZAPFEL.

